CHAPMAN, Richard: Richard Chapman, a long-time resident of Penticton and retired land surveyor, died peacefully on June 7th, 2015. Born October 23, 1927 in Wellingborough, England, Richard (Dick) was the first of five boys to bless his parents Harold and Edith. He attended Wellingborough preparatory school during the week and on weekends would disappear to explore England on his bicycle. On holidays, his adventurous spirit brought him to Spain and Portugal. This led him to become a self-proclaimed tour guide to further finance his travels. He left school at 15 with scholarship offers to the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge. Instead of accepting, Dick chose to enlist in the army. He attended Edinburgh University for Army Engineering, was commissioned into the Royal Engineers in 1947 and was then posted to Egypt and Kenya. After demobilzation in 1948 he returned to Kenya where he continued his surveying and made lifelong friends with whom he shared many adventures. In 1956 he immigrated to Canada and joined McElhanney in Vancouver to become a BC Land Surveyor. There he met the love of his life, Mary Kathleen (Kathie), a registered nurse. They moved to Kamloops and were married in 1958. Two years later they settled in Penticton, started a family and Dick set up his own land surveying business. When he was engaged as surveyor for the development now known as Sage Mesa he fell in love with the view and purchased a lot to build the family home. Throughout the years he surveyed in and around Penticton and Princeton and eventually began developing land. In 1972 he fulfilled a dream, taming scrubland and cactus to build Pine Hills Golf Course. Anyone who has been there will remember the friendly service of their hosts "Dick and Kathie". Weekends were spent exploring, hiking, mining, playing cricket and, on more than one occasion, almost getting lost in the hills. Kathie shared his passion for travel and the family would take off on a moment's notice to England, Mexico or Europe. Dick's life was spent taking advantage of every opportunity that presented itself. He was committed to everything he set his hand to, but most of all, he was committed to his family. He was selfless, caring, and a true gentleman. He was proud to have been a long term member of the Penticton Downtown Rotary Club and supporter of the Okanagan Symphony, Penticton Art Gallery, Penticton Community Concerts and many other local groups. He became a Fellow of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (England) and continued his surveying business until he was forced to retire at the ripe young age of 85. He will be remembered by all for his contagious smile and propensity to laugh. Dick is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Kathie, daughters Lesley, Susan (Paul), Heather (Patrick), son John, grandchildren Sarah, Jacob, Ross and Gareth, nephew Ian (Caroline) and family and relatives in England; brothers Peter (Margaret), David (Eileen), sister-in-law Shirley and their loving families. Dick leaves behind long-time work colleagues (Nick Holtz, Philip Motchman and Tim Hall) and all of his friends, who are too many to list. Memorial donations may be made to The Good Samaritan Society (Village by the Station) or to Penticton Regional Hospital. A family service was held on June 12th and a celebration of life will be held at 3pm on July 31st at Pine Hills Golf Course. In memory of an incredible entrepreneur and a caring gentleman who lived life to the fullest. Condolences may be shared by visiting www.everdenrust.com
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